Brook Bay

Responding to reports from the Isle of Wight Archaeological Unit of pieces of shipwreck being washed ashore in Brook Bay, the Trust investigated the bay and its environs in 2001. The intial investigations consisted of beach walking, metal detecting and research. This is to be complemented in future years by diving operations on the submerged ledges which run across the mouth of the bay and have claimed many ships in the past.

The National Trust kindly granted the HWTMA permission for metal detecting on the beach. We were joined by Friends of the Trust who helped us have a closer look at the southern end of the beach, from where most of the timbers were being reported found. Numerous contacts were made within marked corridors, several of them being pieces of old metal fence which had fallen from the cliff above. However, some interesting items were discovered, they included a metal bracket and iron bolt which could have originated from a shipwreck. These were recorded on proforma sheets and a photographic record was taken.

We look forward to continuing investigations in and around Brook. It is an area very rich in shipwreck material and early research has pointed to a wealth of wrecks lost in the area. This further highlights the treacherous nature of the bay to shipping past and present, as well as the extent of the resource which we are working to record and protect.

Friends of the Trust metal detecting around Brook Bay